Manchester City currently have several key players injured and have been unable to rest players to begin the season. The question is what type of team will they field for their Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle United this week?
City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Carabao Cup isn’t high on his list of priorities this season. Speaking after City’s win over Nottingham Forest he said: “We have a lot of injuries. I’m not going to waste one percent of energy for the Carabao Cup. Kyle Walker for example, like Ruben Dias, who have played 90 minutes for the national team, 90 minutes, because they are exhausted already. And we cannot lose it.”
Guardiola also explained that Jack Grealish may feature as he makes his way back from injury. He said: “It will be good for Jack Grealish to take minutes, and of course, some players have a lot of minutes, they are not going to play against Newcastle. That’s for sure.”
With the City squad having already played 9 games this season the Carabao Cup tie will be a good opportunity to give key players a rest. While the treble winners want to win every competition they enter, it’s understandable if the Carabao Cup isn’t high on Guardiola’s priorities.
The game may present a chance for some squad players to start. Kalvin Phillips, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis and Stefan Ortega could all start. Given they haven’t played a lot of football this season, the game is the perfect chance for them to start.
It will be interesting to see what lineup Pep Guardiola names an hour before kickoff of Manchester City’s clash with Newcastle United.
